Milking the Data: Analyzing India's Packaged Milk Market🐄
I analyzed 55 products (with known nutrition facts as of April 5, 2024) across 22 brands in the Milks category of the India database of Open Food Facts - the 'Wikipedia of food'. The data, which has been obtained from Open Food Facts and subsequently cleaned up, is available on GitHub in CSV format. You can also view that curated dataset with the Flat Viewer tool.
Here are my findings and fun facts I discovered -
* In India, dairy products are a primary source of protein for vegetarians, and Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine, recommends daily milk consumption.
* Dairy products, especially milk, were consumed on the subcontinent at least from the Vedic period (1500 – 500 BCE).
* The mid-20th century witnessed the White Revolution, or Operation Flood, led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, transforming India into the world's largest milk producer. A breakthrough in making skim milk powder from buffalo milk helped Amul, a major dairy cooperative, successfully compete against cow milk suppliers like Nestle.
* India's dairy industry is the largest in the world, contributing 5% to the national economy and providing direct employment to over 80 million farmers.
* India's dairy sector is a vital component of the country's economy, with dairy products accounting for 6.61% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). As noted in the RBI's annual report, rising prices of food and beverages, including dairy products, have been a significant driver of inflation in India in FY24.
* India is first among all countries in both production and consumption of milk. India has been the world's largest milk producer since 1997, when it surpassed the United States. It contributes 25 percent to the world's total milk output.
* Most of the milk produced in India comes from buffalo; cow milk is a close second, and goat milk a distant third. India's largest dairy cooperative Amul (Anand Milk Producers Union Ltd) even offers packaged camel milk in both liquid and powder formats.
* Buffalo milk contains 7–7.5% fat, which is almost double of that of cow milk and fetches a better price for farmers & dairy producers. As compared to cow milk, buffalo milk is richer in total proteins, particularly the casein and whey proteins.
* Commercially, milk is valued for two key components: milk fat (F) and solids-not-fat (SNF). SNF primarily comprises proteins, lactose, and minerals. The term 'total solids' (TS) denotes the combined amount of SNF and fat in milk, which can vary from 12 to 16 percent based on the source. Cow milk has a TS of 12 percent, with 3.5% F and 8.5% SNF, whereas buffalo milk has a TS between 15 and 16 percent, with 6-7% F and 9% SNF.
| Variant | % fat | % solid-not-fat (SNF) |
|---|---|---|
| Full cream milk | 6% | 9% |
| Standardised milk | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| Toned milk | 3.0% | 8.5% |
| Double toned milk | 1.5% | 9% |
| Skimmed milk | 0.5% | 8.7% |
* Packages are not standard. This variability makes it challenging to compare prices because the quantity cannot be determined from the product dimensions alone.
* Packaged milk is available in plastic pouches and Tetra packs. The shelf life depends on the processing method, with regular pasteurized milk lasting 1-2 days, while Ultra-High-Temperature (UHT) milk can go up to 3-6 months.
* Among the products analyzed are brands from India's many milk cooperatives that play a significant role in the country's dairy industry. Here is a list of some prominent milk cooperatives in India:
| Milk cooperative | Brand |
|---|---|
| Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. | Amul |
| National Dairy Development Board | Mother Dairy |
| Karnataka Milk Federation | Nandini |
| Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation | Milma |
| Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation Limited | Aavin |
| Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited | Verka |
| Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Ltd. | Sudha |
| Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd. | Saras |
| Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation, UP | Parag |
| Uttarakhand Co-operative Dairy Federation Ltd. | Aanchal |
| Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Limited (TSDDCF) | Vijaya |
| Haryana Dairy Development Co-operative Federation Ltd | Vita |
| Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Limited | Snowcap |
| Madhya Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited | Sanchi |
| Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited | Devbhog |
| Jharkhand Milk Federation | Medha |
| Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Ltd. | Gokul |
| Pune Zilha Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Ltd. | Katraj |
| Baramati Taluka Sahakari Doodh Utpadak Sangh Maryadit | Nandan |
| Koyana Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Prakriya Sangh Ltd., | Koyana |
| Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd | Goa Dairy |
| Pondicherry Co-op. Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. | Ponlait |
| West Bengal Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Ltd. | Mimul |
| Kishan Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd., | Kishan |
| The Ichhamati Co-Operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd | Ichhamati |
| West Assam Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Ltd. | Purabi |
| Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd | Sikkimilk |
| Gomati/Tripura Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. | Gomati |
| Godavari Cooperative Milk Union | Godavari |
| Aurangabad District Cooperative Milk Producer's Union Limited | Devgiri Mahanand |
| Shivamrut Cooperative Milk Union | Shivamrut |
| Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited. | Him |
* The regulatory authority for dairy products intended for consumption is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Government of India.
* Milk is tagged under the FSSAI category 01 - Dairy products and analogues, excluding products of food category 2.0 and sub-category 1.1 - Milk and dairy-based drinks. The following types of milk are further classified under 1.1.1 based on certain defined characteristics [PDF: APPENDIX A, Version 1 (01.09.2023), 360 pages] -
- Buffalo Milk
- Cow Milk
- Goat Milk
- Camel Milk
- Sheep Milk
- Mixed Milk
- Standardized Milk
- Toned Milk
- Double Toned Milk
- Skimmed Milk
- Full Cream Milk
- Low Lactose or Lactose free milk
* Low-lactose or lactose-free milk refers to a product made from any type of milk where the lactose content has been significantly reduced through hydrolysis, either enzymatic or by another suitable process.
* Lactose, the sugar found in milk, serves as an energy source for both humans and milk's microorganisms. Typically, lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose, which are then transformed into lactic acid and absorbed in the intestines. The enzyme beta-galactosidase is crucial in converting lactose into lactic acid. Lactose intolerance occurs when there's a decrease in beta-galactosidase production. In the large intestine, undigested lactose draws in extra water. The bacteria there ferment the lactose into acid and gas, leading to symptoms like flatulence, stomach pain, and sometimes enteritis.
* The standards for milk, as outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, do not recognize any distinction between A1 and A2 milk types [FSSAI's FAQ on Milk & Milk Products].
* FSSAI encourages fortification of milk with Vitamin A and Vitamin D because of the widespread deficiencies present in the population.
Note - This research was based on Open Food Facts data accurate as of a certain date. Information on product packaging may change; for the most current details, consult the latest data.
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